Yreka - (AFP) Firefighters in Northern California are working on Monday to put out a fire that is the largest in the state this year, killing two people as it spread and forcing thousands of residents to flee to escape the fires that destroyed their homes.

The McKinney fire came after it was ignited by strong winds and thunderstorms on dry areas in the state on Sunday, which extended over an area of more than 22,500 hectares in the Klamath National Forest in southern California near the city of Yreka, and has not yet been extinguished, according to the California Fire Department (Calfire).

About 850 firefighters are working Monday to put out the flames, according to the National Forest Fire Coordination Group.
California and other parts of the western United States have experienced massive wildfires in recent years due to drought and global warming.

This is the largest wildfire since the beginning of the year in California, which has already been ravaged by many fires this summer.
According to the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, firefighters Sunday found two bodies inside a burnt-out vehicle in the parking lot of a home in the town of Klamath River -- in the path of the fire.

Speaking to ABC News, Jeremiah LaRue said firefighters believe the couple were caught in the rapidly expanding flames as they tried to escape.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday and said the fire had "destroyed homes" and "threaten critical infrastructure" following its outbreak on Friday.

Newsom said in a statement that the fire "was intensified and spread by flammable dry spaces, extreme drought, high temperatures, winds and thunderstorms."

More than 2,000 citizens were ordered to evacuate their homes, while about 200 others received warnings in this regard, according to California emergency services, most of them in Sisikyu County.

"Residents of the surrounding areas should be ready to leave if necessary. Please do not hesitate to evacuate your homes," the security services official in Sesikyo County tweeted.

Interstate 96 and McKinney Creed Road, southeast of the Klamath River, were closed to traffic, Calver said.

A resident of Yarka, Larry Castle, told the Sacramento Bee newspaper that he and his wife packed some belongings and their three dogs to leave the area and spend the night outside, because other fires in recent years had taught them that the situation could become "very dangerous."
The unprecedented fire broke out days after a fire is the largest in central California.

The Oak Fire near Yosemite National Park broke out in mid-July and spread rapidly, destroying 41 homes and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.

California, which has been experiencing a severe drought, is still at risk of fires for months.

In recent years, the American West has experienced wildfires of exceptional size and intensity, with a marked lengthening of the fire season, a phenomenon scientists attribute to a warming climate.